IRS Headliners and News Releases March 2021
►UPCOMING WEBINARS
IRS webinar: Hearing All Voices – Small Business Workshop and Listening Session
This workshop is for multicultural small business owners, organizations and associations who do business with them.
During the Workshop and Listening Session we will cover the following information:
- Small Business Essentials: Hear from IRS on estimated taxes, self-employment tax, withholding tools for employers and more.
- Interacting with IRS: Hear about examination and collection processes.
- Being an Employer 101: Get an overview of employment taxes (employee vs. independent contractor rules and the Trust Fund Recovery Penalty.
- Appeals: Hear about appeals fast track settlement program, collection due process and much more.
- Taxpayer First Act: Give your input on how the IRS can improve service to small business owners.
- Listening session: We want to hear from you.
Registration: Please choose your preferred date, then send your registration information to the appropriate e-mail address. The email should Include the date you are registering for, your name and phone number.
- Wednesday, March 10, 2021, 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. (ET)
FL, NC, SC, and GA
Email: CL.SL.Area.4@irs.gov
- Tuesday, March 16, 2021, 2 p.m. - 4 p.m. (ET).
Salt Lake City, UT: AK, WA, OR, ID, UT, CO, WY, and MT
Email: CL.SL.Area.6@irs.gov
- Wednesday, March 17, 2021, 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. (ET)
LA, AL, MS, AR, OK
Email: CL.SL.Area.3@irs.gov
- Wednesday, March 24, 2021, 2 p.m. - 4 p.m. (ET)
New York and Texas
Email: CL.SL.Area.4@irs.gov
- Thursday, May 6, 2021, 2 p.m. - 4 p.m. (ET)
Southern CA: Southern CA, AZ and NM
Email: CL.SL.Area.5@irs.gov
- Wednesday, May 19, 2021, 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. (ET)
DC, VA, TN, KY, OH, and MI
Email: CL.SL.Area.3@irs.gov
- Tuesday, June 22, 2021, 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. (ET)
NEWARK, NJ: NJ, DE, WV, PA, and MD
Email: CL.SL.Area.2@irs.gov
- Thursday, June 24, 2021, 1: p.m. - 3 p.m. (ET)
BOSTON, MA; MA, ME, VT, NH, CT, and RI
Email: CL.SL.Area.2@irs.gov
►RECENTLY POSTED TO THE IRS VIDEO PORTAL www.irsvideos.gov
Topic: Highlights of Tax Changes from a Tax Forms Perspective
Aired: Tuesday, February 2, 2021
View: IRS Video Portal
Topic: Keys to Mastering Due Diligence Requirements and Audits
Aired: Thursday, February 4, 2021
View: IRS Video Portal
The full transcript is provided as closed captioning and the PowerPoint is posted for downloading under the “Slides PDF” link.
►HOT TOPICS
IRS reminds businesses to report large cash transactions; e-file encouraged
- The IRS today reminds businesses of their responsibility to file Form 8300, Report of Cash Payments Over $10,000, and encourages e-filing to help them file accurate, complete forms.
►VICTIMS OF TEXAS WINTER STORM
Victims of Texas winter storms get deadline extensions and other tax relief
- Victims of this month's winter storms in Texas will have until June 15, 2021, to file various individual and business tax returns and make tax payments
- The tax relief postpones various tax filing and payment deadlines that occurred starting on February 11. As a result, affected individuals and businesses will have until June 15, 2021, to file returns and pay any taxes that were originally due during this period.
►VICTIMS OF OKLAHOMA WINTER STORM
IRS announces tax relief for Oklahoma severe winter storm victims
- Victims of winter storms that began February 8, 2021 now have until June 15, 2021, to file various individual and business tax returns and make tax payments, the Internal Revenue Service announced today.
- Following the recent disaster declaration issued by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the IRS announced today that affected taxpayers will receive tax relief.
- Individuals and households affected by severe winter storms that reside or have a business in all 77 counties in Oklahoma qualify for tax relief. The declaration permits the IRS to postpone certain tax-filing and tax-payment deadlines for taxpayers who reside or have a business in the disaster area.
►ECONOMIC IMPACT PAYMENTS AND THE RECOVERY
REBATE CREDIT
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- Valuable information in Form 1040 instructions. See “Line 30, Recovery Rebate Credit” starting on page 57. See the worksheet on page 59.
►A CLOSER LOOK
How the IRS Protects Taxpayers from Tax-Related Identity Theft
- While the “Security Summit” partners have made tremendous progress, there is still much work to be done and they need the help of taxpayers and tax professionals to also take steps and protect their own data.
- No longer a petty crime of opportunity perpetrated by unorganized criminals and unscrupulous tax preparers, tax-related identity theft evolved into a major enterprise by well-funded, technically sophisticated national and international criminal syndicates
►NEWS RELEASES
IRS issues alert on improper corporate domestic production activities deduction refund claims
- IRS officials issued an alert today concerning amended returns and claims for the Domestic Production Activities Deduction (DPAD). This provision of tax law was repealed as part of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act for taxable years after December 31, 2017. In the wake of the repeal, the IRS has received a wave of questionable amended returns and claims for tax benefits in the billions of dollars.
►TAX TIPS TO SHARE WITH YOUR CLIENTS
Here’s what taxpayers should do if they have missing or incorrect documents
- Taxpayers should double-check to make sure they have all their documents before filing a tax return.
- Taxpayers who haven't received a W-2 or Form 1099 should contact the employer, payer or issuing agency and request the missing documents. This also applies for those who received an incorrect W-2 or Form 1099.
People should be on the lookout for identity theft involving unemployment benefits
- The IRS urges taxpayers whose identities may have been used by thieves to steal unemployment benefits to file a tax return claiming only the income they actually received. Taxpayers who receive an incorrect Form 1099-G should contact the issuing state agency to request a revised form.
- Scammers also took advantage of the pandemic by filing fraudulent claims for unemployment compensation using stolen personal information of individuals who had not filed claims. Payments made as a result of these fraudulent claims went to the identity thieves.
All taxpayers have the right to pay no more than the correct amount of tax
- When taxpayers complete their tax returns, they may discover they will owe taxes. By law, they have the right to pay no more than the correct amount of tax.
- This is one of ten Taxpayer Bill of Rights. These are fundamental rights taxpayers have when dealing with the IRS. One of which is the right to pay no more than the correct amount of tax, including interest and penalties, and to have the IRS apply all tax payments properly.
Things taxpayers should know when choosing between standard and itemized deductions
- Deductions reduce the amount of taxable income when filing a federal income tax return. In other words, they can reduce the amount of tax someone owes.
- Most taxpayers have a choice of either taking the standard deduction or itemizing their deductions. The standard deduction may be quicker and easier, but, itemizing deductions may lower taxes more, in some situations. It's important for all taxpayers to look into which deduction method best fits them.
- Following tax law changes, cash donations of up to $300 made by December 31, 2020 are deductible without having to itemize when people file a 2020 tax return.
Taxpayers must report gig economy income on their tax return
- The bottom line is taxpayers must report gig economy income on their tax return.
- The gig economy is also referred to as the on-demand, sharing or access economy. People involved in the gig economy earn income as a freelancer, independent worker or employee. They use technology known as online platforms to connect them with customers to provide goods or services. This includes things like renting out a home or spare bedroom and providing delivery services. Money earned through this work is usually taxable.
What taxpayers need to know about claiming the credit for other dependents
- Taxpayers with dependents who don't qualify for the child tax credit may be able to claim the credit for other dependents.
- The maximum credit amount is $500 for each dependent who meets certain conditions. These include:
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- Dependents who are age 17 or older.
- Dependents who have individual taxpayer identification numbers.
- Dependent parents or other qualifying relatives supported by the taxpayer.
- Dependents living with the taxpayer who aren't related to the taxpayer.
- The credit begins to phase out when the taxpayer's income is more than $200,000. This phaseout begins for married couples filing a joint tax return at $400,000.
Common and costly errors taxpayers should avoid when preparing a tax return
- Electronically filing a tax return reduces errors because the tax software does the math, flags common errors and prompts taxpayers for missing information. It can also help taxpayers claim valuable credits and deductions.
- The IRS urges all taxpayers to file electronically and choose direct deposit to get their refund faster and avoid pandemic-related paper delays. IRS Free File offers online tax preparation, direct deposit of refunds and electronic filing, all for free. Some options are available in Spanish.
Here are reasons taxpayers should file a 2020 federal tax return – and why e-file is best
- Most people with gross income of $12,400 or more must file a federal tax return. Some people with a lower income are not required to file. However, these individuals should still consider filing for a refund of federal income tax withheld. They may also be eligible for certain tax credits, like the earned income tax credit, the recovery rebate credit and others.
- The IRS strongly encourages people to file electronically and choose direct deposit to avoid pandemic-related paper delays. IRS Free File offers online tax preparation, direct deposit of refunds and electronic filing, all for free. Some options are available in Spanish. These products help people find all the tax credits and deductions for which they qualify.
►NEWS FOR BUSINESSES and EMPLOYERS
New law provides additional flexibility for health FSAs and dependent care assistance programs
- Employee benefit plans offering health FSAs or dependent care assistance programs now have more flexibility in 2021 and 2022 to help employees meet unanticipated needs due to the pandemic., despite challenges posed by COVID-19, choose to keep their employees on the payroll.
- Under the COVID-related Taxpayer Certainty and Disaster Tax Relief Act of 2020, these plans now have additional discretion in 2021 and 2022 to adjust their programs to help employees better meet the unanticipated consequences of the public health emergency.
IRS Notice 2021-11 Employers can withhold, make payments of deferred Social Security taxes from 2020
- The Internal Revenue Service released Notice 2021-11 PDF addressing how employers who elected to defer certain employees' taxes can withhold and pay the deferred taxes throughout 2021 instead of just the first four months of the year.
- Any taxes deferred under Notice 2020-65 are withheld and paid ratably from employee wages between January 1, 2021, until April 30, 2021. However, the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021, signed into law December 27, extended the period that the deferred taxes are withheld and paid ratably. The period is now for the entire year − from January 1, 2021, through December31, 2021. Notice 2021-11 makes changes to Notice 2020-65 to reflect this extended period. Payments made by January 3, 2022, will be considered timely because December 31, 2021, is a legal holiday. Penalties, interest and additions to tax will now start to apply on January 1, 2022, for any unpaid balances.
►TAX EXEMPT / NON-PROFIT
- As part of ongoing efforts to improve service for the tax-exempt community, the Internal Revenue Service issued the revised Form 1024-A, Application for Recognition of Exemption Under Section 501(c)(4), and its instructions to allow electronic filing.
- "Electronic filing will make the Form 1024-A application easier to complete while reducing errors," said Edward Killen, Acting Commissioner of the IRS Tax Exempt and Government Entities division. "Electronic filing also shortens IRS processing time so applicants won't wait as long for a response."
►NEWS FROM OTHER AGENCIES
- The Biden-Harris administration has made delivering equitable relief to hard-hit small businesses a top priority. The latest round of Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) funding opened just one month ago and it represents a marked improvement on the prior round of the Program last year.
- While these efforts are no substitute for passage of the American Rescue Plan, they will extend much-needed resources to help small businesses survive, reopen, and rebuild. Specifically, the Biden-Harris administration will, for example:
- Institute a 14-day period, starting Wednesday, during which only businesses with fewer than 20 employees can apply for relief through the Program.
- Help sole proprietors, independent contractors, and self-employed individuals receive more financial support.
- Eliminate an exclusionary restriction that prevents small business owners who are delinquent on their federal student loans from obtaining relief through the Paycheck Protection Program.
►OUTREACH CONNECTION
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►HOW TO SHARE IRS INFO ON SOCIAL MEDIA
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